Preparing kinematographic-film supports.



H. DANZER. PREPARING KINEMATOGRAPHIO FILM SUPPORTS. APPLICATION FILED JULY 13, 1909.

988,981. Patented Apr. 11, 1911.

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UNITED STATES PA rrnrorrrca.

HENRY DANZER, 0F PARIS, F RANCE.

PREPARING KINEMATOGRAPHIC-FILM surronrs.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed Ju1y 13, 1909. Serial No. 507,384.

5 Republic of France, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Preparing Kinematographic-Film Supports, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention refers to the formatifon of the surface of bands or ribbons made 0 the formation of the surface of bands or supports used for kinematographic films. The formation of the surfaces of these bands consists of a depolishing or a repolishing, and are for the purpose of removing scratches and faults of all kinds, as well as for facilitating the adherence either of the coat of emulsion to be applied or the layer of colored ink in the case of photoglyptic printing. The depolishing and the repolishing of the bands made of plastic material is effected by means of a method based on a principle which consists in impregnating a depolished surface with a solvent and then in applying thereto the film or band to be depolished. The solvent used Will depend on the material to be dissolved, for example, acetone in the case of celluloid. B

This process is of general application and according to the case to which it is applied is effected by soaking a sheet of ground glass, for example, in acetone and immediately after applying the film or band of celluloid, care being taken to assure a very intimate contact between the two.- The celluloid Will be superficially dissolved and will be molded exactly to the depolish ed sure face. The acetone will be very rapidly ab- 0 sorbed by the celluloid and will then be almost immediately evaporated. The film or v band of celluloid will then be removed and its surface will exactly reproduce the depolish of the glass. The same process is 5 gone through for repolishing with the exception thata perfectly polished surface is substituted for the depolishing surface.

When it is necessary to depolish ribbons of great length, such as kinematographic will be preferable to employ an arrangementpermittinga continuous working. For this purpose a machine continuously carrying out all the above mentioned operations, is here given forthe i. sake of example and has been designed more plastic material, but more particularly to particularly for depolishing or repolishing kinem'atographic band supports for films.

This machine is diagrammatically shown in side elevation in the accompanying (lrawing.

In this machine,

the band 1 to be depolished is situated on a reel 2, from where' it Patented Apr. 11, 1911.

passes over a roller 3 and is pressed against the depolishing cylinder 4 by means of pressure rollers 5. The band is then removed from the cylinder by means of the roller 6 and the separating blade 7; it then passes over rollers S on to the reel 9, onto which it is wound.

The depolishing cylinder 4 is situated on a horizontal shaft rotated by any suitable means whatsoever. this cylinder 4 dips into a trough 10 containing acetone. This trough isarranged so that the height at which it is situated can be adjusted. The soaking of the cylinder can be effected, for example, by means of a pad or the like dipping into the trough andalso coming into-contact with the surface of the cylinder 4. The rotary movement successively brings the soaked portions of the cylinder 4: into contact With the surface of the band 1 to be depolished and also automatically assures the separation of the depolished band from the cylinder; the depolished band is then wound on to the reed 9.

In order to be able to use the same machine .also for repolishing the bands, it will sufiice to substitute a polished the depolishing cylinder 4.

By combining the above described processes of depolishing and possible completely to remove faults and scratches of all kinds on the surfaces ofkinematographic band-supports or other bands of any plastiomaterials. Nevertheless for kinematographic purposes the use of films comple'telydepolished disadvantageously affects the projection; as a matter of fact the rays of light emitted by the ,condenser are partly diffused in all directions by the depolishing, thereby occasioiiing a considerable loss of light; furthermore owing to the difi'usion of the light, the black portions of the picture assume to a cer cylinder for The lower portion of.

repolishing, it is tain degree a grayishtinge, thereby decreasing the contrasts and consequently affecting the beauty of the projections. For the pur pose of overcoming this disadvantage it is preferable instead of depolishing the su port side, on the side for receiving the coat of emulsion for the purpose of facilitating the adherence of the latter, the polishing surface being left uncoated. The depositing of a:

layer of gelatin on thesaid depolis ed surface, owing to the slight difierence between the indices of refraction of both substances, almost entirely suppresses'the effect of the deplolishing to such an extent that the film wil the naked eye.

By forming on the surface of the depolishing or polishing cylinders signs, drawings or marks whatsoever in relief or in intaglio, polished or depolished, corresponding signs, drawings or marks will be formed on the bands treated and will stand out as a polished surface on an unpolished surface on the'surface of the said bands or viceversa. For example, it is thus possible to print on a polished band a name or amark which can be repeated all along the edges and will stand out as polished or depolished. Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is:

1. The process of producing on a kinematographic film support a suitable surface on both sides only to depolish it on one appear almost absolutely transparent to for receiving a new emulsion, which consists in moistening the surface of a moving element with a volatile film-solvent, causing successive portions of the film to travel in contact with said moistened surface for a suitable length of time to soften each portion and enable it to conform closely to said surface, and then continuously stripping the film from said moving element and carrying it through the air a suflicient distance to permit said solvent to evaporate.

2. The process of depolishing a celluloid kinematographic film support, which consists in moistening the depolished surface of a moving element with acetone, longitudinally moving said film support so that successive portions of it come in contact with said surface to cause a slight dissolving of the contiguous face of said support and a molding of it to said depolished surface,

and then continuously stripping said film support from said moving element and evaporating said solvent.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HENRY DANZER.

Witnesses:

Glirus DANZER, MERIN OREsPIN. 

